Apparatus and method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pad for being impacted with an impact pressure at an impact point, and several sensors. One sensor is located in close proximity to the pad for producing a first output value corresponding to the impact pressure, and another sensor located in close proximity to the pad for producing a second output value corresponding to the impact point and the impact pressure. A processor determines a computed impact point from the first and second output values, and controls output sound in conformance with the computed impact point.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument, the electronic percussion instrument producing an audio signal in response to said impacts, the apparatus comprising: 
       at least one pad for being impacted with an impact pressure at an impact location;  
       at least one first sensor located in close proximity to the at least one pad for producing at least one first output signal having a value corresponding to the impact pressure;  
       at least one second sensor located in close proximity to the at least one pad for producing at least one second output signal having a value corresponding to the impact location and the impact pressure; and  
       at least one processor programmed for determining a computed impact location from the magnitude of the at least one first and second output values,  
       wherein a characteristic of the audio signals produced by the electronic percussion instrument is determined by the impact pressure. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 1 , the at least one processor further including a reference table that has been derived in advance with regard to a standard impact location, the reference table containing various impact pressures at the standard impact location and associated second output values produced by the various impact pressures; 
       wherein the computed impact location is determined by comparing the first output value and the second output value with the reference table.  
     
     
       3. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument, the electronic percussion instrument producing an audio signal in response to said impacts, the apparatus comprising: 
       at least one pad of said electronic percussion instrument for receiving impacts at an impact location and generating impact vibrations and impact pressure in response to the impacts;  
       at least one first sensor located in close proximity to the at least one pad for producing at least one first output signal having a value that is substantially independent of impact location, but dependent on the magnitude of the impact pressure;  
       at least one second sensor located in close proximity to the at least one pad for producing at least one second output signal having a value dependent on the impact vibrations; and  
       at least one processor in communication with the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and programmed for determining a computed impact location from the at least one first and second output values,  
       wherein a characteristic of the audio signal is determined by the impact pressure. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is further programmed for controlling an output sound in conformance with the computed impact location. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each pad is divided into one or more regions, and at least one first sensor is coupled to each region. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 5 , the at least one processor further programmed for varying parameters of the output sound in accordance with a location of the computed impact location within a particular pad. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 5 , the at least one processor further programmed for varying parameters of the output sound in accordance with a magnitude of the impact pressure at the computed impact location within a particular pad. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 4 , the at least one processor further including a reference table corresponding to a standard impact location, the reference table containing a mapping of various first output values and associated second output values produced at the standard impact location; 
       wherein the at least one processor is further programmed for determining the computed impact location by comparing the at least one first output value and the at least one second output value with the reference table.  
     
     
       9. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 8 , the at least one processor further programmed for determining the computed impact location by: 
       storing an actual first output value resulting from an impact into a first register;  
       storing an actual second output value resulting from the impact into a second register;  
       accessing the reference table to locate an associated second output value corresponding to the actual first output value; and  
       comparing the associated second output value to the actual second output value to determine the computed impact location.  
     
     
       10. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 9 , the at least one processor further programmed for varying parameters of the output sound in accordance with the actual first output value and the actual second output value. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 9 , the at least one processor further programmed for varying a tone quality of the output sound in accordance with the computed impact location. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 9 , the at least one processor further programmed for varying a volume of the output sound in accordance with a sum of the actual first output value and the actual second output value. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one second output value is dependent on the impact location and the impact pressure. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 3 , further including a cushioning material disposed between the at least one pad and the at least one first sensor for communicating impact pressure to the at least one first sensor. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 6 , the at least one processor programmed for defining a control pad wherein, by varying the computed impact location within the control pad, other pads are selected from which parameters of the output sound are varied in accordance with the computed impact location within those pads. 
     
     
       16. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument, the method comprising the steps of: 
       receiving impacts at an impact location on at least one pad of said electronic percussion instrument and generating impact vibrations and impact pressure in response to the impacts;  
       communicating the impact pressure to at least one first sensor for producing at least one first output signal having a value that is substantially independent of impact location, but dependent on the magnitude of the impact pressure;  
       communicating the impact vibrations to at least one second sensor for producing at least one second output signal having a value dependent on the impact location; and  
       determining a computed impact location from the at least one first and second output values.  
     
     
       17. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 16 , further including the step of controlling an output sound in conformance with the computed impact location. 
     
     
       18. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the step of receiving impacts at an impact location on at least one pad further includes receiving impacts at an impact location on one or more regions on each pad. 
     
     
       19. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 18 , the method further including the step of varying parameters of the output sound in accordance with a location of the computed impact location within a particular pad. 
     
     
       20. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 18 , the method further including the step of varying parameters of the output sound in accordance with a magnitude of the impact pressure at the computed impact location within a particular pad. 
     
     
       21. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 17 , the method further including the steps of: 
       generating a reference table corresponding to a standard impact location, the reference table containing a mapping of various first output values and associated second output values produced at the standard impact location; and  
       determining the computed impact location by comparing the at least one first output value and the at least one second output value with the reference table.  
     
     
       22. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 21 , the step of determining the computed impact location further including the steps of: 
       storing an actual first output value resulting from an impact into a first register;  
       storing an actual second output value resulting from the impact into a second register;  
       accessing the reference table to locate an associated second output value corresponding to the actual first output value; and  
       comparing the associated second output value to the actual second output value to determine the computed impact location.  
     
     
       23. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 22 , the method further including the step of varying parameters of the output sound in accordance with the actual first output value and the actual second output value. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 22 , the method further including the step of varying a tone quality of the output sound in accordance with the computed impact location. 
     
     
       25. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 22 , the method further including the step of varying a volume of the output sound in accordance with a sum of the actual first output value and the actual second output value. 
     
     
       26. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one second output value is dependent on the impact location and the impact pressure. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 16 , the method further including the steps of: 
       inserting a cushioning material between the pad and the at least one first sensor for communicating impact pressure to the at least one first sensor; and  
       inserting a cushioning material between the pad and the at least one second sensor for attenuating impact vibrations to the at least one second sensor.  
     
     
       28. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 19 , the method further including the step of defining a control pad wherein, by varying the computed impact location within the control pad, other pads are selected from which parameters of the output sound are varied in accordance with the computed impact location within those pads. 
     
     
       29. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument comprising: 
       at least one pad of said electronic percussion instrument for receiving impacts at an impact location and generating impact vibrations and impact pressure in response to the impacts;  
       a case adjacent to the at least one pad for supporting the at least one pad and communicating impact vibrations generated by the at least one pad, an edge area of the case enclosing the at least one pad;  
       at least one first sensor operatively coupled to the at least one pad for producing at least one first output signal having a value dependent on the impact pressure;  
       at least one second sensor coupled to the case for receiving impact vibrations from the case and producing at least one second output signal having a value dependent on the impact vibrations; and  
       at least one processor in communication with the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and programmed for determining a computed impact location from the at least one first and second output values.  
     
     
       30. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 29 , further including a cushioning material disposed between the at least one pad and the at least one first sensor, and between the at least one pad and the case, for attenuating impact vibrations to the case and communicating impact pressure to the at least one first sensor. 
     
     
       31. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the at least one second sensor is coupled to the case near the edge of the case. 
     
     
       32. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the at least one first sensor has an output value that is substantially independent of impact location, but dependent on the magnitude of the impact. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a generally planar member that extends coplanar with a substantial part of the impact surface. 
     
     
       34. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument, comprising: 
       at least one pad of said electronic percussion instrument for receiving impacts at an impact location and generating impact vibrations and impact pressure in response to the impacts, wherein at least one of the pads is divided into two or more regions;  
       at least one first sensor located in close proximity to the at least one pad for producing at least one first output signal having a value dependent on the impact pressure, wherein at least one first sensor is located in each region and wherein each first sensor only generates an output value when the region of the pad in which the sensor is located has been struck;  
       at least one second sensor located in close proximity to the at least one pad for producing at least one second output signal having a value dependent on the impact vibrations; and  
       at least one processor in communication with the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and programmed for determining a computed impact location from the at least one first and second output values.  
     
     
       35. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 34 , the at least one processor programmed for defining a control region wherein, by varying the computed impact location within the control region, other regions are selected from which parameters of the output sound are varied in accordance with the computed impact location within those regions. 
     
     
       36. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument, comprising: 
       at least one pad of said electronic percussion instrument for being impacted with an impact pressure at an impact location;  
       at least one first sensor located in close proximity to the at least one pad for producing at least one first output signal having a value corresponding to the impact pressure;  
       at least one second sensor located in close proximity to the at least one pad for producing at least one second output signal having a value corresponding to the impact location and the impact pressure; and  
       at least one processor programmed for determining a computed impact location from the magnitude of the at least one first and second output values, and for controlling the amplitude of an output sound based on the magnitude of one or both of the first and second output values.  
     
     
       37. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the processor is programmed so that the amplitude of the output sound is dependent on the impact location. 
     
     
       38. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the processor is programmed so that the amplitude of the output sound is dependent on the impact pressure. 
     
     
       39. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument, comprising: 
       at least one pad of said electronic percussion instrument for being impacted with an impact pressure at an impact location;  
       at least one first sensor located in close proximity to the at least one pad for producing at least one first output signal having a value corresponding to the impact pressure;  
       at least one second sensor located in close proximity to the at least one pad for producing at least one second output signal having a value corresponding to the impact location and the impact pressure; and  
       at least one processor operable with a reference table for determining a computed impact location from the magnitude of the at least one first and second output values, the reference table associating a plurality of impact pressures with an associated plurality of second output values for a standard impact location;  
       wherein the computed impact location is determined by comparing the at least one first and second output values with the reference table.  
     
     
       40. A method for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument, the method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a reference table with regard to a standard impact location, the reference table containing various impact pressures at the standard impact location and associated impact vibrations produced by the various impact pressures;  
       receiving impacts at an impact location on at least one pad of said electronic percussion instrument and generating impact pressure and impact vibrations in response to the impacts; and  
       determining a computed impact location by comparing the generated impact pressure and impact vibrations with the reference table.  
     
     
       41. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein there are more than two levels of gradation for the magnitude of the first and second output values used to determine the impact location. 
     
     
       42. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
       a case adjacent to the at least one pad for supporting the at least one pad and communicating impact vibrations generated by the at least one pad;  
       wherein the at least one first sensor is supported on the case; and  
       wherein the at least one second sensor is coupled to the case.  
     
     
       43. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a generally planar member that extends coplanar with a substantial part of the impact surface. 
     
     
       44. An apparatus for detecting and processing impacts to an electronic percussion instrument as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one second sensor is a piezoelectric sensor. 
     
     
       45. The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein a characteristic of the output sound depends on a magnitude of the at least one first output signal.